3 minute read
worth noting
Your Stories for Future Generations
When Covid hit, the Westchester Office of Economic Development responded with their Catalyst program to help 1,000 Westchester residents launch businesses. Participants took advantage of self-paced online course work to evaluate their business ideas, test them with potential customers and implement the plan if it seemed likely to succeed. Resources included mentorship, key personal introductions, and even grants to support these new businesses.
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One Westchester resident who took advantage of the Launch 1,000 program was David Vogel. His concept: provide affordable videos of people telling their stories, to share with loved ones. With a background in producing documentaries and television commercials for over 30 years, Vogel decided to interview and record his own dad who shared many life lessons and opened the door to Vogel’s next venture. Vogel makes the process of creating family legacy videos – which can be shared with future generations - as simple as possible, without the need for video crews, travel expenses or having strangers in your home.
Starting at $1,500 for a twohour interview, Vogel produces roughly 90 minutes of content. The video, however, is actually several videos as each story lives on as its own separate video so viewers can listen to individual stories without having to sit through one entire video.
If the client prefers, videos can be stored and accessed online. Vogel also provides thumb drives of the videos. To learn more, visit www.heirloomdocs.com, call 914-3543666 or email David@Heirloomdocs.com
Covid EmotionalSupport Services
NY Project Hope, a Family Services of Westchester program funded by FEMA and overseen by the New York State Office of Mental Health, is an emotional support helpline that anyone may call to talk to a crisis counselor about their experiences and to be connected to any resources they may need. The program helps New Yorkers understand their emotions because, “Sometimes it helps to talk with someone you don’t know.”
The helpline is free, anonymous and confidential. They also conduct educational presentations and support groups – virtually and in person - for people who have struggled during the pandemic. You can connect to the helpline by calling 914708-6104, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more about Project Hope at nyprojecthope.org.
Outpatient Care
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital’s renovated and retrofitted outpatient therapy facility, located on its 61-acre main campus in White Plains, offers more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated space for physical, occupational, speech and language, and specialty therapies. “The renovations and repurposing of this space will enhance [patient] experience and recovery and are incomparable in our area,” said Burke’s Vice President of Outpatient Services Steve Tisser. According to Burke’s Supervisor of Outpatient Occupational Therapy Andrea Sullivan, OT, “The renovated facility presents therapists and patients with the opportunity to recreate real-life situations and improve skills that are vital to daily life. Our goal is for patients to gain independence in their homes and reach their maximum possible recovery.”
Burke offers nine other outpatient sites with multi-disciplinary services in the NY Metropolitan and Hudson Valley regions. For additional information, visit burke.org.
Volunteers Needed
The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is a dedicated advocacy program available to anyone residing in a nursing home or other longterm care residence. The program advocates for residents to address their quality of life and quality of care issues, along with their rights.
Locally, the Tri-County LTC Ombudsman Program serves Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, and calls attention to the rights of residents in nursing homes, assisted living, adult care residences and family-type homes.
Judy A. Farrell, MPA Program Director TriCounty LTC Ombudsman Program (LTCOP), says, “We need now, more than ever, dedicated volunteers to advocate for nursing home and other long-term care residents.”
Certified Ombudsman volunteers can help ensure the voices of long-term care residents do not go unheard. To learn more about making a difference as a volunteer with the Ombudsman Program, please visit https:// nursinghome41l/ltcop/volunteer or call 914500-3406.
